Feirense and Rio Ave meet at the Marcolino de Castro Stadium in a match for the 20th round of the Primera Liga. Rio Ave won at home for (1-0) the last time they faced each other in this edition of the league, 08-08-2016. The home / away condition deserves special attention, since although this is a game between 13th and 9th overall, it is actually a clash between the 16th place home and the 7th home game.
Feirense
The home team is currently in 13th place with 19 points, after 5 wins, 4 draws and 10 losses. In the penultimate game, won at home against Estoril by (1-0). In the latter, he tied off against Moreirense for (1-1). This is a team little affected by the home factor, that is to say, it achieves practically the same points at home, where it scored 6 goals and suffered 15, and outside, with 9 goals scored and 18 conceded. For the league, Feirense won 11 points out of 30 after 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses in their last 10 games at their stadium. Defensive solidity has not been his strong point, having conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 games for this competition. In 19 games in this event, he suffered the first goal 11 times and never managed to return to the result.
Feirense’s team start with a tie to a ball against Moreirense, adding the third consecutive match without losing in the competition: Fabinho scored the only goal of the team. It is important to point out that the home team are in a comfortable position in the championship, however, they can not lose points since they have only six points more than Nacional, the first team in the relegation zone. In this home game, coach Nuno Manta should keep the team at 4-2-3-1 with Platiny being the most offensive reference: this player is Feirense’s top scorer with 5 goals scored. For this game the coach can not count on Etebo, injured, in addition to Vítor Bruno and Ricardo Dias, players who serve punishment.
Rio Ave
After 8 wins, 3 draws and 8 losses, the visiting team is in 9th place, having won 27 points. In the last game, they beat Braga at home (1-0), after losing in the previous game in a game against Porto, (4-2). This is a stronger team in their field, where they won 16 points, against only 11 in their games as a visitor. In the last 9 away games for the championship Rio Ave has recorded 3 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, so he has won 11 points out of 27. The team conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, so it has not shown great defensive solidity, but its attack has been regular, since it managed to materialize in 8 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In his away games for this competition there is a tendency towards few goals, since in 7 of the last 9 that disputed there were less than 3 goals. In 19 games in this event, he has never managed to come back to the scoring in the 8 games in which he suffered the first goal. In the last 9 away games for all competitions there has been 1 period that stands out: scored 3 of his 8 goals in the minutes (76′-90 ‘).
Rio Ave’s squad starts off for this highly motivated game as the home win against Braga 1-0, returning to triumphs after four consecutive games without a win: Rafa made the only goal of the team. To remember that the visitors have as their main objective the conquest of a place in the European competitions of the next year. In this away game coach Luís Castro should play in 4-2-3-1 benefiting possession of the ball and organized bouts, especially through the corridors. Hélder Guedes is Rio Ave’s top scorer with 4 goals scored. Leandrinho, Lionn, Aníbal Capela and Pedrinho are absent from the game due to injury.
Prediction: Under 2,5 goals
Odds: 1.45
